Aussie cliche will not get the dollars

One of the most powerful figures in the film industry has criticised Australians wanting to be directors, producers and scriptwriters as a "lifestyle choice".

The chief executive of the Film Finance Corporation, Brian Rosen, said Australia has about 2000 registered film and video production companies compared to about 100 in Britain and 700 in France.

Delivering the Ian McPherson Lecture as part of the Sydney Film Festival, the former producer said the country could not sustain so many filmmakers.

"It's no good being in feature film as a lifestyle choice in Australia - it's way too tough and you just don't bring to it what is needed to push through to an audience," McPherson said.

The corporation, the Federal Government's main agency for backing film and television production, was considering funding second-time directors who had already proved their mettle.

Rosen said that it had funded about 150 directors since its inception in 1988 but 113 had made only one FFC-funded film.

"Enough of this egalitarian shit," Rosen said, diverting from his prepared speech. "I think it's time we started rewarding success. Start funding people who can deliver stories and start funding them properly."

He reiterated his view that the corporation should fund fewer films a year - from 20 to perhaps 13 - but that each should have a larger budget.

"What's clear is that Australian audiences don't want to see a continuing procession of cliched, outdated and stereotypical characters that are somehow seen as being quintessentially Australian," Rosen said.

He urged Australian filmmakers to "go out there and do something daring".